Germany urges EU to do more to boost Syria's economic recovery

In the text obtained by dpa on Wednesday, Berlin suggests starting talks with the European Investment Bank, which is owned by the bloc's 27 member states, on a potential return to Syria.

The paper also proposes a review of potential trade facilitation measures for the Syrian agricultural and textile sectors.

In the long term, a more expansive partnership agreement between the EU and Syria should be considered, it said.

Millions of Syrians fled the country during the rule of long-time dictator Bashar al-Assad, who was toppled in December 2024 by an Islamist-led rebel alliance after years of bloody civil war.

Despite the regime change, many of those who came to the EU as refugees have so far hesitated to return, as Syria's economic outlook remains dire despite the lifting of EU sanctions.

Minorities are also concerned whether they will have a place in the country under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda fighter.

Once an insurgent leader, al-Sharaa has since renounced both al-Qaeda and Islamic State. However, doubts remain as to whether he has fully abandoned extremist ideology.

The EU removed sanctions imposed on al-Sharaa, who was previously included on the bloc's terror list, in November.

The German position paper notes that a lack of economic prospects might jeopardize the political transition process and, consequently, the country's overall stability.

The EU, the paper concludes, must therefore place particular emphasis on policies to support economic recovery and post-war reconstruction, which is estimated to cost at least $216 billion, according to a World Bank calculation cited in the text.

Per capita income in Syria has recently fallen well below the international threshold for low-income countries, according to the World Bank analysis.

One in four Syrians lives in extreme poverty, while two-thirds of the population are below the poverty line for lower-middle-income countries.

Diplomats told dpa that other EU member states, including France, Italy, Sweden and Austria also back the position paper.